October 28, 2023, Manila- Although you didn’t ask, I will tell you anyway: With not much going on today, I busied myself in learning how to count by ones, then by tens and thousands,in Tagalog.
Here is the chart for which you have all been waiting!

One Isa; Two Dalawa; Three Tatlo; Four Apat; Five Lihma;

Six Anim; Seven Pito; Eight Wahlo; Nine Seeyam; Ten Sampu

Twenty Dalawangpu; Thirty Tatlumpu; Forty Apatnapu; Fifty Limampu;

Sixty Animnapu Seventy Pitumpu Eighty Walumpu Ninety Siyamnapu

Hundred Isang Daan Thousand Isang Libo Ten Thousand Sampung Libo

Hundred Thousand Isang Daan Libo Million Isang Milyon Billion Isang Bilyon

Some other essentials: Hello is……Hello! Goodbye is Paalam. Please is Pakiusap. Thank you is Salamat po. Excuse me is Pasensya na po. Yes is Oo. No is Hindi. No thank you is Hindi salamat. How are you? is Kamusta? Pleased to meet you is Nagagalak ako na makilala kaed.

Of course, most Filipinos know at least a fair amount of English, but like people anywhere, they appreciate an effort by visitors to speak the language of their heart. It is unfortunate, in my view, that salamat is being replaced by Thank you, but that is the trend, here in Manila, at least.

To keep up a visual of the Baha’i National Center, here is the dignified Seat of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the Philippines.